Mail-bag-delivery apparatus for cars.



L. J. BVAN S.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.23, 1907. n

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

Attest:

L. J'. EVANS.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.23, 1907.

913,715. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attest: Inventor.

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L. J. EVANS.

MAIL BAG DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1907.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES TENT OFFCF.

LEWIS J.,EVANS, OF KIRKWOOD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR Ol" ONE-FOURTH TO COETYLER AND THREE-EIGHTHS lO JOHN M. DAVIDGE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BAG-DELIVERY APIPARATUS FOR GARS.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed December 23, 1907. Serial No. 407,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS J. Evans, citizen of the United States,residing at Kirkwood, New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in. Mail-Bag-Delivery Apparatus ior Cars, oi which theiollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus ior use in the railwayT mail service,and particularly to means 4for delivering mail bags from the cars at thedifferent post ollices along the road.

In carrying out my invention I aim to provide means whereby the variousconditions of the service may be niet with saiiety to the employees, andwhether the car be running in the one direction or the other, or whetherthe invention be used upon a single, double or four-track roaddelivering night or day.

One object of .my invention is to provide a simple and eil'ectivcmechanism which will positively eject the mail bags irom the car withoutrequiring the railway mail clerk to assume a position ci danger, theapparatus being so arranged that it may be employed at either side ofthe car.

y The invention consists in the ieatures and combination and arrangementot' parts here inafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the acconipanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ci a railwaymail car and the net by my ii'nproved 'form adapted to receive the mailbag therefrom. Fig. '2 is a cross sectional view of a car with myimprovements attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing adill'crent way oi operating the delivery mechanism from that shown inFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view oi' a part of a car and the post whichcarries the catcher in proper relation thereto and the net which isadapted to receive the mail bag from the car. Fig. 5 is a detail frontview ol the delivering apparatus and indicator indicating stations nightor day. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the delivering apparatus. Fig.

7 is a view of a chute oi large,capacity adapted to take a number oimail bags. Fig. 8 is a view of a battery oi delivery chutes adapted todeliver one, two or three mail bags as may be needed 'from the car atapproximately the same time. Fig. 9 is a detail view ci the indicatingchart. Figs. 10 and 11 are views oi a receptacle or receiver ada )ted tobe arranged along side of the traci and between the tracks to receivethe bag from either track.

In these drawings 1 represents the railway car oi substantially ordinaryconstruction. I provide in the side of the car an opening 2 throughwhich the mail bag is delivered. Extending from the inside of the cartransversely thereof is a chute or trough 3 having its end projectingthrough the opening in the side of the car, the said chute being ofsubstantially cylindrical form in cross section, but having an open topto permit the mail bag to be placed therein. The chute is curved fromend to end on the arc of a circle struck from the point 4 as a centerand the chute is supported at this point 4 by means of arms 5, 6,extending from near the opposite ends of the chute to the point oi'support Li. The supporting pin at this point is supported in theup-turned sides 7 of a base plate or bracket S, which is attached to thelloor ol the car. lhe chute is slotted longitudinally along its lowerside at 9, in which slot the delivery arm or ejector 10 is adapted tomove. This delivery arm or ejector is provided with a cup shaped head ormember 11, adapted to receive the bottom of the mail bag when this isplaced in the chute. The delivery arm 10 is under tension of a springwhich is coiled about the supporting pin 4l to which the arm 10 isfixed. rlhe arm 10 is rigidly vfixed to a collar 12 and this in turn issuitably fixed to the pin or shaft ll. The coil spring at one endengages the arm 10 and at the other end it bears upon a 'fixed part ofthe structure. By drawing the arm back in the position shown in Fig. 2it is placed under the strong tension of the spring mentioned, and forlocking the arm or setting it in this position I employ a detent orcatch 12 pivoted to the base at 13 to swing in a directionlongitudinally oi the car, the said detent having a lug or tooth 11iprojecting laterally to engage a lug or projection 15 on the deliveryarm 10. I prefer to make the under side of the tooth 14 slightly concaveto receive the projection 15 so that the catch will be maintainedsecurely in engagement with the lug 15.

For operating the detent so as to release the delivery arm 10 andthereby discharge the mail bag from the car I employ a rod or link 15attached to an arm 16 extending horizontally from the detent or settingcatch, the upper end of said link being connected withhanjarm 17 carriedby a trip lever 18 pivoted at 19 to the car structure and having itsupper end projecting as at 20 above the roof of the car. This trip leveris thus located in the path of a suitable projection at the post oflicestation, so that as the car passes the trip lever will be operated by.contact with said projection or arm at the station, thus swinging thedetent lever 12 from engagement with the delivery arm 10 and allowingthe spring 8 to exert its force to move the de'- livery arm to the leftand thus eject the mail bag from the chute out through the side of thecar. 1 provide, in the path of the delivery arm, a buffer spring 21which will return the delivery arm 10 to a point Within the car after ithas performed its delivery action. The force of thespring 8 issufficient to carry the delivery arm a considerable distance beyond thelocation of the buffer spring 21 so as to discharge the mail bag Withcertainty.

For returning the delivery arm to the position shown in Fig; 2, Iprovide a handle 22 adapted to detachably engage the head 23 of theVdelivery arm, and when the parts are set in theposition of Fig. 2 thishandle may be removed and placed in a suitable support, such forinstance as is shown on the side of the chute inV Fig. 2 at 24, Where itwill be readily accessible for use. For attaching the delivery apparatusto the floor of the car 1 provide a projection 25 on the base adapted toengage an eye 26 onthe iioor of the car at one end, the other end of thebase having an extension 27, which is hel-d by a screw 28 passingtherethrough and into a socket 29 in the' car floor. rl-"here is one ofthese sockets and one of the eyes 26 at each side of the car, and inorder to deliver mail through the side of the car opposite to tha-tshown in Fig. 2, the screw 28 is removed and the whole deliveryapparatus is detached from the eye 26 at one side and isV shifted to theopposite side of the' car where it is engaged by the eye 26 andi thescrew 28 is then used to secure the base pla-te to the other socket 29.In order to allow this shifting of the delivery apparatus to beperformed the chute must first be withdrawn from the opening in the sideof the car and this is readily done by simply swinging thechuteitogether with the arms 5 and' 6 inwardly about the pivot et.

l prefer to form the chute with a decided downward' trend at or near theside of the car, whereas the inner end of the chute T prefer to haveonly slightly inclined' downwardly so that the chute, say for one-half'its length fromv its inner end is of such form as to hold the bagsubstantially horizontally, while the outer end of the chute curvesdownwardly at a sharp angle so that with a heavy bag minimum amount ofpressure or force will be necessary in order to start it on its flight,van'df the decided downward trend of the outer portion of the chute willmaterially assist in the discharge action and render it possible todeliver heavy bags with a minimum force of spring pressure.

l may, instead of operating the catch 12 from an overhead connection,employ an arm as shown at 28 Fig. 3, pivoted at 29 to the car floor.This arm has a detent 14 at its upper end and its lower end is arrangedto be operated by projections along side of the track.

As shown in Fig. l, 1 prefer to operate the trip lever 2O by means of anarm 30 on a mail bag catcher mechanism shown generally at 31, thiscatcher being supported on a post 32 arranged at the station along sideof the track, and its function being to hold a mail bacV so that it maybe caught by the car as it passes the station and this catching actionresults from the operation against the arm 3() of a projection on thecar. This projection in the present embodiment of my invention consistsof the trip lever 20. The parts are so related that when the members 20,and 30 contact with each other the trip lever 2() will be the iirst toyield, thus releasing the delivery mechanism for the discharge of themail bag from the car and this trip lever having been operated to itslimit provides enough resistance to then cause the tripping of the arm30 of the mail bag catcherl mechanism, resulting in the discharge of themail bag from the catcher mechanism 31 and its delivery to the ear. Thecar is equipped with a chute as indicated at A, Fig. 1, by which themail bag, from the catcher 31, is caught and directed from the top ofthe car into the interior thereof.

T may employ, as shown in Fig. 7, a chute of suflicient capacity forthree mail bags at once, or as shown in Fig. 8 l may employ a 105battery of chutes to be operated atsubstantially the same time. Ofcourse more or less of these battery chutes may be employed, those thatare not employed for discharging the mail simply remaining inactive, inother words their delivery arms not being set for action.

For receiving the mail bag at the station l employ a net 33 which ishung from a supporting frame which may consist of a spring V arm 34journaled on the post 32. This swinging arm is used when the net isemployed on a single or double track road. For a four track road the netis provided with two compartments divided by the vertical partition 35having two mouths at 36, 37, so that a mail bag can be receivedfromeither side. `When this double form of net is employed it is hung from arigid bar 38 as shown in Fig. 1. Springs 39 attached to 125 the netserve to hold the same in position. I show in Fig. 1 the positionassumed by the end of the net when a mail bag is discharged into thesame.

1n order to indicate the approach to' a 130 station I employ anindicator' 39 set up along side of the delivery mechanism as shown inFig. 5, this consisting ot a suitable chart having the names ot thestations thereon and a pointer l1() which is operated through a shaft 41and a suitable train ot mechanism extending to the car axle l2substantially as shown, so that thc mail clerk by glancing at the chartcan tell at what point along the route the car then is, and he candetermine how much time he has to place the bag in the chute for thenext delivery. I provide a loop at 41./ to act as a stop against whichthe delivery arm bears when fully retracted and by which the machine maybe drawn when reversing same to other side of the mail car.

It will be observed that with my improvement the operations ol takingthe bag or catching it and delivering into the car as well as theoperation of discharging or delivering the bag from the car areperformed through means located above the car and in a position which isbest for the sa'l'ety ot the mail clerk or the crew on the train.

The net of double 'form as employed by me can be used between the tracksel either a double or a `tour-track road and is representative ol' anysuitable l'orm ot' receiving means to be located between the tracks andreceive a bag from either side. The delivery arm may be set by powergearing particularly when it is intended to deliver a number oi' bags.

Instead of the net I may employ a receptacle composed of rigid materialas shown in Figs. 10, 11, this comprises a partly cylindrical trough orreceiver 42/ which is rigidly supported in a casing 43. Extendinglongitudinally of this trough is a partition pivoted at its upper end soas to swing in either direction. rIhe trough is adapted to receive amail bag from either side and can thus be used on a double orfour-tracl-i road as well as upon a single track. The pivoted partitionon the impact of the bag swings to one side and-its lower edge strikesagainst the side ot' the trough and it thus forms a continuation of thisside of the trough and directs the bag into the trough whereupon the bagis directed by means of the curved end 44 ol' the trough into thereceptacle Ll5 beneath the trough and access to this receptacle can ibehad only through a door, the lock ot which is controlled by thepostmaster. Each end ol' the trough has the curved shield or directingportion so that the apparatus will operate with a train running ineither direction. No matter which side the bag is thrown from into thetrough it will strike the hinged partition, which by abutting againstthe opposite side of the trough will direct the bag into the same.

I claim as my invention 1. A mail bag delivery apparatus comprising achute arranged transversely ol' the car olI curved torni, a delivery armpivetally supported below the chute and movable along the chute, meanslor applying power to the delivery arm, means l'or setting the arm readyl'or action and means l'or releasing the said arm tor the discharge olthe mail bag, said means being actuated when the ears arrive at thedelivery station, substantially described.

2. In combination in a mail bag deivery apparatus, a curved chuteextending transversely ol' the car ol,` substantially cylindrical l'ormin cross section and having an open top to receive the bag, a deliveryarm pivoted at 8O a point below the chute, means tor operating andcontrolling said arm, said chute being slotted l'or the movement ol' theain therein, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the delivery chute having an open top to receivethe bag, a pivoted delivery arm movable along the chute and having a cupshaped member lo receive the end oll the bag and means vl'or controllingand actuating the delivery arm, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a chute to receive the mail bag having its outer enddirected laterally ol' the car and downwardly, and a discharge armpivotally supported and movable along the chute with means lor opera l1-ing and controlling the discharge arm, substantial ly as described.

5. In combination in an apparatus ol the class described, a chute withinthe ear having its end directed to the opening in the car, said chutebeing oll curved l'orm with a steep incline at its outer end and itsinner end curved slightly downward, and an ejector movin@P in the saidchute with means for controlling and operating the same, substantiallyas described.

6. In combination with a car, a delivery chute extending to an openingin the car and with its end in said opening, an ejector' lor 110discharging the mail bag working in the chute, and pivoted supportingmeans for the chute, said means swinging in a vertical plane to withdrawthe chute from said opening, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a chute having its end extending into an openingin the car, said chute being curved on substantially the arc of a circleand a su )port for the said chute pivoted substantially at the centeroll the said arc and means i`or ejectin the mail bag from the chute,substantial y as described.

S. In combination with a chute, a pivoted support therefor, an armarranged to turn about the said pivot, a spring 'l'or pressing the saidarm, and means -for holding and releasing the arm, substantially asdescribed.

9. fn combination with a chute and the pivoted arm operatingtransversely ol the car, a detent engaging a projection on the arm, saiddetent being pivoted to swing in a direction longitudinalhT ol' the car,substan tially as described.

10. ln combination with the delivery means Within the car, means at thetop oi' the car l'or controlling the said deli ery means and a mail bagholding device to actuate the said controlling means, said controllingmeans reacting on the mail bag holding device to cause the same toactuate to permit the car to catch the mail bag therel'rom,substantially as described.

11. in combination with the chute, a spring pressed delivery arm and aspring buffer against which the arm impinges, said butter tending toreturn the arm, substan# tially as described.

12. ln combination in an apparatus oi the class described, a receptaclefor the bag having its interior divided into two compartments to receivea mail bag from either side, and means i`or supporting said receptaclewhereby it may be employed alongside or between the tracks,substantially as described. Y

13. In combination with the delivery apparatus on the car, the catcherapparatus, a trip i'or the delivery apparatus, a trip for the catcherapparatus, said trips being operated by contact with each otaer,substantially as described.

14. in apparatus oll the class described, a receiving trough having ahinged partition extending longitudinally thereoll and adapted toreceive the impact oi' the bag from either side and to direct the baginto the trough, substantially as described.

15. In combination With a trough, the receptacle beneath the same andmeans for directing the bag from the trough into the receptacle,substantially as described.

16. In combination With a trough, the receptacle beneath the same andmeans 'for directing the bag from the trough into the receptacle, saidmeans consisting oi' the curved shield at the end ol the trough,substantially as described. n

17. in combination in apparatus of the class described, a trough toreceive the mail bag from either side, a receptacle beneath the troughand a curved shield at each end of the trough to direct the mail intothe receptacle no matter in which direction the train is running,substantially as described.

18. ln combination with the chute and the delivery arm, a detentengaging a part of the said delivery arm, said detent having a concaveface whereby it Will be maintained in position until sullicient force isapplied, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, l aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWS J. EVANS.

Tl'itnesses: Y

HENRY E. Coornn, VALTER DONALDSON.

